How to get into local?

Have you tried any Ltl companies?

 

Try USF Holland. They have a terminal in Chattanooga

 

Try SAIA...
I would, they seems to be a very good company....

 

Don't just consider the "classic" LTL companies. I got hired on with Saia but, the hours sucked (late morning to evening) so I kept looking. I pulled a dry bulk tanker for a little while local and than I landed my current job with a chemical distribution company and it is awesome.

Most day's I run LTL and some days I pull tanker, equipment is all newer and kept up meticulously, electric pallet jacks, paid breaks, two bonuses a year, good benefits, all the OT you could want, no Saturdays and I could go on and on.

The only bad part is you almost exclusively haul Hazmat, our trailers have 10 placards per side for petes sake. Some of that crap is nasty stuff.

What I'm getting at is consider all your options for local, start paying attention to daycabs and see what companies are running them.

 

What Mack said it's true. Don't limit yourself to those. There are small local outfits nobody has ever heard of that you will have to find out for yourself. The other day coming back from Georgia a brand new KW T680 daycab passed me doing 70, dude was pulling a brand new trailer as well. I looked up the company they don't even have a website, looked at a satellite image of their address is just a tiny warehouse with a few trailers.

Only info I found was this

http://www.truckdriver.com/trucking-company-directory/ShowDOTCo.cfm?CENSUS_NUM=714540

I know this has nothing to do with you but this is an example of local jobs Mack is mentioning.

Keep your eyes open in your area. Write down all the companies using day cabs and google them and try to find anything you can about them.

 

Look at Craig's List, Monster or Career Builder. You might find a lumber yard or steel place needing a driver.
Actually going to the place to fill out an application maybe get your foot in the door faster then an online application. Make them remember you as an applicant.

 

A lot of LTL companies you have to apply online. I think Estes and Old D are the only ones who still use paper applications.

 

I would go to all the industrial parks by where you live and start knocking on some doors, usually in areas like that you will find companies that will only have a handful of trucks but can use drivers to move freight. First place I worked at was a small time gig with only 3 trucks with plain trailers. Good luck!

 

Do you work for UPS Freight?